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Are you getting the best rate of return on investment? Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine annually discusses ways to boost your investment yield in their latest issue. I have to say that I am always pretty disappointed in their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn't really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But, I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments. US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much … [Read more...] about Ten Ways To Earn A 10% Rate Of Return On Your Investments

The following is a guest post by Tom McMakin is the author of "How Clients Buy" (Wiley, 2017) and the CEO of Profitable Ideas Exchange (PIE). If you'd like to contribute a guest post to Money Q&A, be sure to check out our guest posting guidelines. A woman with a fuchsia jacket and large hoop earrings works to upsell us. “Are you interested in the cold-weather package and undercarriage protection.” A guy at the mall jewelry store with pants that hang impossibly low peers over the counter and says, “We find a good rule of thumb is … [Read more...] about Why We Hate Salespeople – One Hurdle People in Sales Need to Overcome

If you Google “money and marriage,” most of the top results are articles and studies that offer desperate couples advice on reducing arguments and full-blown fights over financial issues. Money is a touchy subject for so many people, and for a relationship on track to marriage, money is a particularly important topic as you get closer to combining incomes, assets, expenses, debts, and tax filings. 6 Crucial Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged If you’re on the verge of proposing to your current partner (or expecting a proposal in the near … [Read more...] about Top 6 Questions Everyone Should Ask Before Getting Engaged

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in investing, the world of investments isn’t limited to just the usual assortment of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. In fact, there are many strange investment options that you might not have considered. Many people are flocking to add them to their investment portfolios. Unusual Things to Invest In Here’s a glimpse at five of these unusual options that you might want to consider as well. Cryptocurrencies As Bitcoin continues to rise in value, you’ve probably heard a lot about it in the … [Read more...] about Top 5 New and Unusual Things to Invest In

Last summer, the Walt Disney Company decided to remove its content from the Netflix platform, in order to deliver its films and TV shows to viewers via its own streaming service. In the face of declining revenues and shrinking audiences, the company judged that regaining control of its lucrative back catalog was the best way to boost its bottom line. Online streaming: watch what you want, when you want Customers increasingly prefer to watch movies and TV shows on online platforms, because subscription charges for cable channels have become … [Read more...] about Why Disney Wants to Buy 21st Century Fox

A common myth about retirement planning is that 401k accounts are always superior to IRAs. On its face, this myth appears true. You can contribute significantly more to a 401k each year than an IRA. You can contribute $18,500 to your 401k, versus $5,500 to your IRA for workers under 50 years old. That contribution limit rises to $24,500 for your 401k versus $6,500 for your IRA for workers ages 50 and above. 401k contributions lower your tax burden year-after-year. Some employers even offer matching contributions of up to 3-6% for 401k … [Read more...] about Tax Deductions for 401K Retirement Accounts Explained

If you’re wondering whether there is still adequate time to invest in a college savings fund for your kid(s), you should go ahead and make the leap anyway. You don't want to rely just on student loans to fund their education. You can invest with a robo-advisor or go through a traditional college savings plan broker, depending on your family’s college savings goals. How to Save for College While Your Kid is in High School Start Investing in a 529 College Savings Plan One of the most important things a parent can do while saving up for … [Read more...] about How to Save for College While Your Kid is in High School

Most know that Americans, particularly younger people from the Millennial Generation, are not saving enough for retirement these days, but another surprising group that isn’t saving is home business owners, according to CNBC. Without an employer-backed 401k or pension plan, home business owners are at a unique disadvantage when it comes to saving for retirement. Whereas you can currently contribute up to $18,000 annually to a 401k, with some employers offering a 3% to 6% match, IRAs are limited to $5,500 annually, or $6,500 if you’re 50 … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning for Home Business Owners – How to Save for Retirement

Are you still reeling from your credit card bill after buying Christmas presents? You're not alone. Many Americans continue to put holiday spending on credit cards despite the warning signs of building consumer debt. But, you need to be saving for Christmas again already! According to the National Retail Federation, holiday retail sales increased 3.8% to $601.8 billion. More than $42 billion was spent online, a 10% increase in last year. We give generously to our friends and family members each holiday season. That's fine until you reach … [Read more...] about Why Now Is the Time to Start Saving for Next Christmas

People can confuse prequalification vs. preapproval for mortgages when they are applying for a loan. However, there are noted differences. For example, to become prequalified, you must give a loan officer income and debt information to determine the loan amount you can manage. Preapproval, on the other hand, requires more information gathering and checking on the part of the lender. In other words, the lender must compile your credit report data as well as determine your debt to income ratio. Preapproval makes it easier for you to shop for … [Read more...] about Understanding the Difference Between Prequalification and Preapproval

A lot of young adults don’t understand how to save or invest money nowadays, and financial literacy rates continue to decline year after year. This is evidenced by the student loan debt crisis and stories of college students racking up tons of debt (student loans, credit cards, payday loans, etc.) while working minimum wage jobs. If you’re planning on having kids or you already have kids in your family, how do you plan to teach your kids about money? Of all the mistakes young parents can make, not teaching your kids how to manage money from … [Read more...] about BusyKid Smartphone App Review – Tracking Chores and Teaching Kids About Money